Reminders
We are CLOSED on Victoria Day (May 18). Have a great long weekend!
Days in May
Mother‘s Day – May 10, 2026
Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the care, strength, and love that mothers and mother figures share every day. We recognize and appreciate all the moms, grandmothers and caregivers who nurture, encourage and advocate for their children every day. Thank you for all you do.
Victoria Day – May 18, 2026
Victoria Day is a Canadian federal statutory holiday that is is often referred to as the “May Long Weekend” or the kickoff to summer!
Our clinic will be closed this day. Please contact your clinician to coordinate rescheduling options.
May is ... Speech & Hearing Month!
Access to communication support can transform lives. Each May, Better Speech and Hearing Month (SAC) highlights the importance of communication in how we connect, learn, and live. This year’s theme, “Access Changes Everything,” underlines how essential timely support is for people with speech, language, or hearing challenges.
Communication health is essential at every stage of life.
Communication is key to how we experience the world in learning, relationships, culture, and more. It is how we stay connected in our communities.
1 in 10 Canadians experiences a communication disorder.
Access to services within a timely manner is of utmost importance for social, emotional, educational, and physical well-being. Barriers to accessing communication health services result in significant challenges.
Access to communication health services changes everything.
Access changes everything! It allows children to learn and grow, adults to stay connected and partipate in the community. Overall, effective communication impacts independence and quality of life at any stage.
Equitable access must reflect community needs and contexts.
Communication health must be accessible to all. This includes Indigenous communities which are at a higher risk of experiencing barriers to receive these services due to geographic isolation, jurisdictional challenges, and limited culturally-appropriate care. This stresses the responsibility of communication health professionals to stay culturally informed and sensitive within practice.
(adapted from Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) – Public Awareness Toolkit)
Apraxia Awareness Month
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a neurological speech disorder that effects motor planning and coordination of the complex muscle movements needed for speech. It often co-occurs with other communication differences and/or learning disabilities. However, it is not an intellectual disability. Children with CAS often know what they want to say, but the brain-body disconnect makes it difficult to articulate their thoughts.
Intervention for children (and adults) with Apraxia often consists of intensive speech therapy to support motor planning for verbal speech as well as alternative methods to communicate such as AAC. Speech therapy is most effective if it is early, frequent, and intensive. Additionally, children with CAS usually benefit from Occupational Therapy to support fine motor skills and sensory processing differences.
For more information and resources, check out Apraxia Kids and The Apraxia Foundation.
Mental Health Awareness Week
May 5-11, 2026
No one should have to deal with their mental health alone. What was once considered a stigma is now a global conversation—and for good reason. Mental health shapes how we think, feel, and act, affecting stress management, decision-making, relationships, and even physical well-being. When it’s neglected, we may notice changes like poor sleep, irritability, low energy, or difficulty focusing. Caring for your mental health can be simple: prioritize rest, move your body, stay connected, and make time to recharge. If you’re struggling, reaching out to a trusted person or professional is a strong first step.
Huntington's Disease Awareness Month
The month of May is dedictated to increasing understanding and awareness of Huntington’s Disease (HD). HD is a neurological, inherited disorder that causes gradual changes in movement, thinking, and behavior due to degeneration of nerve cells in specific areas of the brain. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) assist with assessment and intervention of swallowing, communication and cognitive deficits that present with the disorder. This month serves to educate, reduce stigma and support research. Get involved in local campaigns, fundraisers and wear your dark blue ribbon!
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative neurological disease of the central nervous system that interferes with the brain’s signals to the rest of the body (“MS Canada”). The 2026 themes highlight self-advocacy, recognizing decades of treatment progress, and raising awareness of “invisible” symptoms. These may include speech changes, reduced vocal volume, word-finding difficulties, cognitive fatigue, and swallowing challenges. Speech therapy for MS focuses on both rehabilitation (improving function) and maintenance (preserving abilities and managing symptoms). At Lear, SLPs and CDAs support individuals with MS through speech, voice, swallowing, and cognitive-communication therapy, along with education and strategies to help maintain function and support daily communication.
Pediatric Feeding Disorders Awareness Month
Pediatric Feeding Disorders Awareness Month is acknowledged globally in the month of May. A Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) is “impaired oral intake that is not age appropriate, and is associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction” (Goday et al, 2019).
Some key indicators of PFD include:
- Restricted volume of oral intake (insufficient intake of energy, nutrients, or fluid).
- Limited range of food (or textures of food) in the diet
- Prolonged mealtime duration (>30 minutes at mealtimes, >2 hours a day spent trying to feed a child)
- Family stress related to the child’s eating patterns
The complexity of PFD necessitates an interdisciplinary approach to address each of the domains that impacts a child’s quality of life. This includes the family, Dietitian, Occupational Therapist, Speech-Language Pathologist, Psychologist, Nurse, Gastroenterologist, Otolaryngologist, Pharmacist, Social Worker, and more. A Speech-Language Pathologist’s role would involve: assessing a child’s communication signals during eating, evaluating oral/motor feeding skills, documenting clinical signs of swallow dysfunction, conducting instrumental swallowing assessments, and recommending further diagnostic medical testing and oral motor goals.
This year, the organization “Feeding Matters” launched a campaign called: “Call it PFD”, which emphasizes how early identification and a diagnosis leads to better outcomes and access to resources and therapies. Check out their website that shares stories from families who deal with Pediatric Feeding Disorders!